Modular display rack

Claim 2

A portable rack construction, comprising: a first rack section having first and second substantially vertical and parallel side frames of a generally parallelogram configuration, and shelf means mounted on and extending between said first and second side frames; a first coupling member fixedly secured to each of said first and second side frames adjacent the upper edge thereof and a second coupling member fixedly secured to each of said side frames adjacent the lower edge thereof; one of said coupling members comprising a pair of substantially parallel, vertically extending wire members, said wire members being disposed in substantially vertical planes and being spaced from one another by at least a predetermined distance so as to define a slot-like recess therebetween; and the other of said coupling members comprising a member of said predetermined width and adapted for disposition within said slot-like recess of another similarly constructed rack.

Claim 3

A portable rack construction according to claim 1, including: a second rack section adapted to be removably and vertically stacked on top of said first rack section, said second rack section including third and fourth substantially vertical and parallel side frames of a generally parallelogram configuration and shelf means mounted on and extending between said third and fourth side frames; said third and fourth side frames having coupling members corresponding to the coupling members of said first and second side frames; said coupling members coacting between said first and second rack sections for permitting same to be vertically stacked and for preventing relative horizontal displacement therebetween when in the stacked condition.

Claim 4

A rack construction according to claim 1, wherein: each of said side frames includes a vertically extending corner post disposed along the opposite vertical edges thereof, each of said corner posts including a pair of substantially parallel and vertically extending corner members, and a plurality of vertically spaced and substantially parallel horizontal rods extending between and iNterconnecting the corner posts of each side frame; the free ends of said vertical corner members adjacent one edge of the rack section having looped wire members integrally connected thereto with said looped wire members extending vertically outwardly beyond the adjacent endmost horizontal rod, said looped wire members forming said one coupling member; and the horizontal rod on the opposite edge of the rack section having the free ends thereof vertically bent so as to form ear-like projections forming the other coupling member and adapted to extend into the recess between a pair of looped members on another similarly constructed rack section.

Claim 5

A rack construction according to claim 1, wherein each of said side frames includes first and second vertically extending corner posts and a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending support rods extending between and fixedly secured to said first and second corner posts; said first and second corner posts each including a substantially straight and vertically extending center portion having a pair of looped wire members on one end thereof and forming said one coupling member, the looped wire members being disposed in opposing spaced relationship and extending vertically outwardly beyond the adjacent endmost horizontal rod; and the other end of each of said corner posts being formed as an offset shoulder portion and including a vertically extending portion adjacent the free end of the corner post with said vertically extending portion being horizontally offset from said center portion and being interconnected thereto by means of an intermediate connecting portion so that the other end of the corner post has a substantially z-shaped configuration, the offset portions at the other ends of the corner posts being directed inwardly toward one another in opposed relationship; and the other endmost horizontal rod of each of said side frames extending between and being fixedly connected to the vertically extending portions of said corner posts, the opposite ends of said other endmost horizontal rod extending outwardly beyond said vertically extending portions and being bent to form ear-like projections forming the other coupling member and adapted to be received between the looped wire members of a further rack section.

Claim 6

A rack construction according to claim 4, wherein each of the corner posts comprises a pair of parallel wire rod members spaced a slight distance apart.

Claim 7

A rack construction according to claim 4, wherein said pairs of looped wire members are disposed adjacent the lower ends of said corner members, and said offset portions are disposed adjacent the upper ends of said corner members.

Claim 8

A rack construction according to claim 1, wherein said side frames each include a pair of vertically spaced, substantially horizontal support rods, and said shelf means including downwardly extending leg means adapted to resiliently and releasably engage said pair of horizontal support rods for permitting said shelf means to be securely but removably connected between said side frames.

Claim 9

A rack construction according to claim 7, wherein said leg means includes a downwardly extending resilient leg member having a substantially straight portion and including a bent portion adjacent the lower end of said leg whereby the straight portion of said leg is adapted to be positioned adjacent said pair of horizontal support rods with said bent portion being resiliently maintained partially below the lowermost one of said pair of rods.

Claim 10

A rack construction according to claim 8, wherein the straight portion of said leg member is adapted to vertically extend between said pair of horizontal support rods, and said pair of rods being horizontally laterally offset so as to be horizontally disposed adjacent opposite sides of said leg member.

Claim 11

A rack construction comprising: a pair of substantially vertical and parallel side frames, each of said side frames including a plurality of vertically spaced, subsTantially horizontal rod-like members; a removable main shelf supported by and extending between said side frames, said main shelf having downwardly extending legs adjacent the opposite ends thereof for cooperation with a pair of the horizontal rod-like members of each of said side frames, said legs cooperating with said pair of rod-like members and resiliently engaging at least one of said rod-like members for releasably but securely connecting said main shelf to said side frames; an auxiliary shelf suspended from one of the side frames on the opposite side thereof from said main shelf, said auxiliary shelf having upright legs abutting against rod-like members on said one side frame, said upright legs having hook portions on the upper ends thereof, said hook portions being releasably hooked over one of said rod-like members for support thereon.

Claim 12

A rack construction comprising: a pair of substantially vertical and parallel side frames, each of said side frames including a plurality of vertically spaced, subsTantially horizontal rod-like members; a removable main shelf supported by and extending between said side frames, said main shelf having downwardly extending legs adjacent the opposite ends thereof for cooperation with a pair of the horizontal rod-like members of each of said side frames, said legs cooperating with said pair of rod-like members and resiliently engaging at least one of said rod-like members for releasably but securely connecting said main shelf to said side frames; an auxiliary shelf suspended from one of the side frames on the opposite side thereof from said main shelf, said auxiliary shelf having upright legs abutting against rod-like members on said one side frame, said upright legs having hook portions on the upper ends thereof, said hook portions being releasably hooked over one of said rod-like members for support thereon.

Claim 13

A rack structure, comprising: a pair of substantially vertical and parallel side frames, each of said side frames including a pair of vertically spaced, substantially horizontal rod-like members; a removable shelf supported by and extending between said pair of side frames, said shelf having a substantially horizontal support member extending between said side frames and having downwardly extending legs adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said horizontal support member extending between and being disposed above and in bearing engagement with the uppermost ones of said pairs of rod-like members of said end frames, said legs being positioned adjacent the rod-like members and extending vertically therebetween, said legs being resilient and each having an offset portion formed adjacent the lower end thereof, said offset portions being resiliently urged into engagement with the lowermost rod-like members adjacent the lower sides thereof for securely locking said shelf to said side frames.

Claim 14

A rack structure, comprising: a pair of substantially vertical and parallel side frames, each of said side frames including a pair of vertically spaced, substantially horizontal rod-like members; a removable shelf supported by and extending between said pair of side frames, said shelf having a substantially horizontal support member extending between said side frames and having downwardly extending legs adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said horizontal support member extending between and being disposed above and in bearing engagement with the uppermost ones of said pairs of rod-like members of said end frames, said legs being positioned adjacent the rod-like members and extending vertically therebetween, said legs being resilient and each having an offset portion formed adjacent the lower end thereof, said offset portions being resiliently urged into engagement with the lowermost rod-like members adjacent the lower sides thereof for securely locking said shelf to said side frames.

Claim 15

A rack structure according to claim 11, wherein said pair of rod-like members are horizontally laterally offset by a small distance substantially equal to the width of the leg, and the leg being horizontally disposed between the laterally offset rod-like members whereby the uppermost rod-like member contacts said leg adjacent one side of the upper end thereof, with the lowermost rod-like member contacting the lower end of said leg adjacent the other side thereof.

Claim 16

A rack construction, comprising: a pair of substantially vertical and parallel side frames, each of said side frames including a plurality of vertically spaced, substantially horizontal rod-like members; a removable shelf supported by and extending between said pair of side frames, said shelf comprising at least three support rods extending transversely between said side frames, each of said support rods having downwardly extending legs thereon adjacent the opposite ends thereof for cooperation with the horizontal rod-like members of each of said side frames, each of said legs cooperating with a pair of rod-like members and resiliently engaging at least one of said rod-like members for releasably but securely connecting said shelf to said side frames; the rearward one of said support rods being vertically offset upwardly from the other support rods; and a series of article support members secured to and extending between said support rods, said article support members each including aligned generally vertical portions adjacent the front end of the shelf.

Claim 17

A rack construction, comprising: a pair of substantially vertical and parallel side frames, each of said side frames including a plurality of vertically spaced, substantially horizontal rod-like members; a removable shelf supported by and extending between said pair of side frames, said shelf comprising at least three support rods extending transversely between said side frames, each of said support rods having downwardly extending legs thereon adjacent the opposite ends thereof for cooperation with the horizontal rod-like members of each of said side frames, each of said legs cooperating with a pair of rod-like members and resiliently engaging at least one of said rod-like members for releasably but securely connecting said shelf to said side frames; the rearward one of said support rods being vertically offset upwardly from the other support rods; and a series of article support members secured to and extending between said support rods, said article support members each including aligned generally vertical portions adjacent the front end of the shelf.

Claim 18

A rack construction according to claim 13, in which said side frames each have two pairs of said rod-like members, the rearward support rod of said shelf cooperating with the upper pair of said rod-like members and the other two support rods of said shelf cooperating with the lower pair of said rod-like members, whereby the shelf is supported in an inclined position.